Favorite Heirloom Kitchen Cookware/Tools

[beantrees]

I was gifted a non-stick cooking set when I was married. I like the set, and use them all the time. But the non-stick coating is starting to scratch, plus I've read some things about those types of coating being bad for your health. 

I want to invest in some high quality cookware that will last a long time, possibly even heirloom worthy. I'm not willing to fork over enough to replace my entire set. But I want to replace one piece at a time as they wear out. Specifically, I want to replace my medium sized saucepan right now. 

Any suggestions? Paging gastro because I think you will have some good insight. 

[mamaalysson]

I love my Scanpans. They are nonstick, but are some sort of environmentally friendly, green technology. They are amazing. Nothing sticks to them, they clean up like a dream, they can go in the oven, and I've had mine for over 5 years and they still look brand new. Mine are from Sur la Table.

[knkc]

I have stainless steel pans. It took some time adjusted to cooking without the nonstick coating but I love them now. I forget the brand but they are made in the USA. I also really love my cast iron pans. I foresee all my pans lasting for a long time.

[dizzycooks]

We just got a set of ceramic fry pans and I LOVE them. No sticking and easy to clean. We got ours from the Cooks catalogue I think.

[gastro]

Most of my cookware is all clad and I love the stuff. I've had it for nearly ten years, they've moved with me all over the country, abroad and back and have worked on all sorts of stoves and ovens and still look brand new. While a whole set is probably the best value depending on what you cook you probably don't need it all. I use a small saucepan, 4 qt sauce/soup pan, and an everyday braiser (I use this as a large "fry " pan). I also use three different sizes of le crueset Dutch ovens for everything from oatmeal to braising shortribs. A cast iron is my nonstick pan.
The right heat and oil is all you need - there is no need for a nonstick pan. Might take some trial and error....
Near me is a le creuset outlet and stuff is discounted massive amounts for discontinued colors, sizes, etc. maybe there is one near you?
These brands do special offers all the time through all retailers so never buy full price!

[Kcthepouchh8r]

The most important thing to replace is the frying pans. I also had the same issue where I had to replace a nonstick set. With the sauce pans I went to walmart and got their cheapest stainless steel ones. They get the job done. We had a cast iron pan as a hand me down and got a
Few various sized frying pans from caphalon. I like them a lot.

[cabbagecabbage]

I almost exclusively use my le Cruiset dutch oven and my cast iron skillet for most cooking. Cast iron works as well as non stick.

I have a Calphalon grill pan that is non stick and a stainless steel skillet. I use those less but still a bit.

Other than that I have a large pasta pot and a couple sauce pans and I'm all set.

ETA: I was just watching America's Test Kitchen and they recommend the $28 T-fal non stick skillet as the best one at any price.

[mamaalysson]

Mar 5, 2015 23:47:15 GMT -5 gastro said:

Most of my cookware is all clad and I love the stuff. I've had it for nearly ten years, they've moved with me all over the country, abroad and back and have worked on all sorts of stoves and ovens and still look brand new. While a whole set is probably the best value depending on what you cook you probably don't need it all. I use a small saucepan, 4 qt sauce/soup pan, and an everyday braiser (I use this as a large "fry " pan). I also use three different sizes of le crueset Dutch ovens for everything from oatmeal to braising shortribs. A cast iron is my nonstick pan.
The right heat and oil is all you need - there is no need for a nonstick pan. Might take some trial and error....
Near me is a le creuset outlet and stuff is discounted massive amounts for discontinued colors, sizes, etc. maybe there is one near you?
These brands do special offers all the time through all retailers so never buy full price!

Oh yeah, I adore my All Clad stainless steel stuff too.  I thought OP was specifically asking about nonstick, but my All Clad 3 qt sauté pan  gets a ton of use.  That and my nonstick frying pan almost never leave my stove.  I also have 2 saucepans, a frying pan, a stock pot, and a roasting dish.  The frying pan rarely gets used because I prefer the nonstick.  The roasting dish gets used once a year when I cook a Thanksgiving turkey.

Macy's has great prices on All Clad.  They are almost always on sale, and Macy's usually has a coupon floating around that you can use for more off.

[beantrees]

Mar 6, 2015 10:20:31 GMT -5 mamaalysson said:

Mar 5, 2015 23:47:15 GMT -5 gastro said:

Most of my cookware is all clad and I love the stuff. I've had it for nearly ten years, they've moved with me all over the country, abroad and back and have worked on all sorts of stoves and ovens and still look brand new. While a whole set is probably the best value depending on what you cook you probably don't need it all. I use a small saucepan, 4 qt sauce/soup pan, and an everyday braiser (I use this as a large "fry " pan). I also use three different sizes of le crueset Dutch ovens for everything from oatmeal to braising shortribs. A cast iron is my nonstick pan.
The right heat and oil is all you need - there is no need for a nonstick pan. Might take some trial and error....
Near me is a le creuset outlet and stuff is discounted massive amounts for discontinued colors, sizes, etc. maybe there is one near you?
These brands do special offers all the time through all retailers so never buy full price!

Oh yeah, I adore my All Clad stainless steel stuff too.  I thought OP was specifically asking about nonstick, but my All Clad 3 qt sauté pan  gets a ton of use.  That and my nonstick frying pan almost never leave my stove.  I also have 2 saucepans, a frying pan, a stock pot, and a roasting dish.  The frying pan rarely gets used because I prefer the nonstick.  The roasting dish gets used once a year when I cook a Thanksgiving turkey.

Macy's has great prices on All Clad.  They are almost always on sale, and Macy's usually has a coupon floating around that you can use for more off.

No, I'm actually trying to get away from non stick! Thanks for the Macy's tip!

[toastie]

I love my le cruset. I have round and oval French ovens, cast iron fry pans, and their ceramic bakeware. It's my go to for everything. I just wish they weren't so heavy sometimes